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28 Jun, 2015

Flees country

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Ntavyohanyuma, the head of Burundi’s parliament, says he has fled the country for Belgium due to violence

For the moment, I am forced to stay in Brussels… I stayed here given the difficulties in my country, difficulties which are due to the illegal third mandate of the president. On the eve of the election … I would like to say to him (Nkurunziza) that the mandate he wants to have is illegal. I would like to say to him that forcing through the election is senseless

27 Jun, 2015

Torch election material

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Attackers in Burundi set fire to a building storing election materials. There is no indication who is responsible. Police fire shots at the gang to chase them away. A local governor:

A group of unidentified young people took advantage of the police who were sleeping on duty and torched a building housing election material, Part of the ballot boxes and voting booths were burned, but people were able to save the rest.

25 Jun, 2015

Students break into embassy

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In Bujumbura, students climb over the U.S. Embassy wall and under a gate to seek refuge inside the fortified compound. The Embassy confirms about 100 students peacefully remain in the embassy’s parking lot.

The police officers did not resort to violence; no shots were fired and tear gas was not used. Four people suffered minor injuries during the movement.

31 May, 2015

Leaders urge delay

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Heads of state of Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya, plus South African President Zuma meet in Tanzania to discuss a political crisis in Burundi triggered by the president’s plan to run for a third term. Nkurunziza doesn’t attend, and is represented by the country’s foreign minister, Aime. Rwanda also sends a minister rather than the head of state. The leaders call for the postponement of elections by at least a month and a half. Tanzania’s President Kikwete:

The leaders have been trying to navigate our way so we can help the people of Burundi to land safely under the current circumstances.

28 May, 2015

Catholic church withdraws

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The Roman Catholic Church of Burundi announces that it will withdraw its priests appointed to help organize the elections at the heart of the political upheaval in the country.

The Catholic Church cannot support elections that are full of shortcomings. It cannot support a process which is not based on a consensus.

26 May, 2015

France suspends co-operation

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France suspends aid to Burundi’s police and defense establishment, amid a crackdown on anti-government protesters in the Central African country. France helps train the Burundian police, who engage in a violent suppression of anti-government street protests. It also helps train the Burundian army for international peacekeeping missions.

23 May, 2015

Zedi Feruzi killed

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Feruzi, leader of opposition UPD-Zigamibanga party, is killed in a drive-by shooting by unknown assailants in the nation’s capital, Bujumbura. Feruzi is outside his house when a car approaches and its occupants sprayed him with bullets. At least one of his bodyguards also died. The presidential office expresses shock at Feruzi’s killing and denies any role

21 May, 2015

Army calls for unity

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Protesters battle police in violent anti-government demonstrations, as security forces try to stem unrest. At least two protesters are shot dead and eight are wounded in clashes with police in the capital, Bujumbura. Defence Minister Ntahonvukiye calls for unity in the wake of the abortive coup, which was crushed by loyalist forces after street fighting between rival factions. Military statement:

The survival of Burundi as a nation depends on the cohesion of the army.

19 May, 2015

Refugee cholera outbreak

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Burundiean refugees in kagunga villageOutbreaks of cholera and severe diarrhoea strike tens of thousands of refugees from Burundi who are jammed into a village in neighbouring Tanzania. Aid agencies working in the village on the edge of Lake Tanganyika say that sick Burundians are overwhelming health infrastructure and sanitation facilities. There is not enough safe water for drinking. UNHCR reports at least seven Burundian refugees have died of severe diarrhoea.

18 May, 2015

Purges cabinet

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President Nkurunziza purges his cabinet, while protesters are warned that they will be treated as accomplices of the rebel generals who staged the coup. Defence Minister Gaciyubwenge is replaced by Ntahonvukiye, a lawyer who becomes the first civilian defence chief in 50 years. Foreign Minister Kavakure is replaced by Aime, a former ambassador to the African Union; while Trade Minister Ciza is replaced by Inantore. Spokesperson:

The president has powers under the constitution, including being able to change the government, He believes that the time has come and it is up to his discretion.

17 May, 2015

US helps evacuate foreigners

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The United States helps evacuate American, Canadian and other foreign citizens from Burundi, saying it has assisted more than two dozen people to leave on planes to Rwanda. All US nationals that request evacuation are able to leave Burundi, and that Washington routinely provides such assistance to foreign citizens on a space-available basis. State Department:

In addition to approximately 20 US citizens on the three commercial charter flights that went out on May 17 to Kigali, the US helped four Canadian citizens as well as other foreign citizens,..The security situation remains fluid and volatile because of militia, military and security forces activity in Bujumbura. There may be increased political tensions and civil disturbances related to these actions.

16 May, 2015

Generals arrested

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Three army generals and two police generals are arrested for plotting a failed coup attempt against Nkurunziza, along with three lower-ranking officers and eight soldiers. One of the generals arrested is a former defense minister. Gen. Niyombare, is in hiding and has not yet been arrested.

15 May, 2015

Coup attempt foiled

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Loyalist police and army officers crush an attempted coup in Burundi. The announcement follows two days of confusion over who controls the country. Despite the official declaration that the overthrow plot has been defeated, it us by no means clear that stability will return to Burundi. United Nations officials express fears about retribution and further violence. Niyombare’s whereabouts remain unclear. Nkurunziza:

I would like to thank the army and the police for defeating the wrongdoers. There is peace in the country, including the capital city, where those coup plotters were operating.

14 May, 2015

US issues advisory

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The United States issues a travel warning for Burundi, telling its citizens not to go there and urging those in the country to get out as soon as possible. It says it orders all non-emergency US government personnel and dependents of American staff to leave Burundi.

US citizens should shelter in place until it is safe to move about, ensure that your travel documents are up-to-date, and confirm that air and land borders are open before attempting to depart the country.

13 May, 2015

Posts coup failed

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Nkurunziza’s office posts on the president’s Twitter and Facebook accounts:

A group of soldiers mutinied this morning and made a fantasy declaration of a coup d’etat. This attempted coup was foiled and these people … are sought by defense and security forces so they are brought to justice.

11 May, 2015

Belgium suspends aid

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Belgium suspends aid to Burundi, the first country to pull funds due to violent clashes in the African country, after concluding that current conditions do not allow election candidates to campaign. Belgium had pledged four million euros to assist with the organisation of the forthcoming elections — of which a 50 percent tranche has already been paid. The country will also pull out of a five million euro police cooperation deal, which it has in place jointly with the Netherlands. Belgian minister:

In the current circumstances the payment of the remaining two million can only be put on hold.

8 May, 2015

Opposition calls EU to suspend funds

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Burundian opposition leaders call for the EU to suspend €8m of financial assistance and to demand that the government postpone the election. The EU is the main financial contributor to the Project to Support the 2015 Electoral Cycle in Burundi. Alliance for Democratic Change (ADC-IKIBIRI) spokesperson:

We believe the EU’s €8m is a considerable sum. It is shocking that the EU is financing these elections which are killing people, forcing voters of the opposition to flee the country like refugees…It would be unacceptable for the European taxpayer to agree that €8m, which can be used for something else, should be thrown in the trash like that. If these elections are forced to happen, there will be a civil war…Radios have been closed, human rights activists have been imprisoned and these prisoners are refused food and care, are being tortured to the indifference of the international community. The violation of these values ​​must be unacceptable for Europeans partners.

Launches re-election bid

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_82873764_82873758Nkurunziza launches his third-term bid in the capital Bujumbura, defying criticism from the African Union (AU) and the US. He denies suggestions that violence is spiralling out of control. The president compares his country’s situation with Nigeria, where he says polls had gone ahead despite there being no security because of the insurgency by Boko Haram Islamist militants.

Burundians have no problem with elections…because 99% of the country is peaceful…These demonstrations have turned into insurrection, but it is something that will be controlled… and I assure you that the elections will go well.

7 May, 2015

Man burned alive

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Soldiers stand near a burning barricade during demonstrations by protesters against the ruling CNDD-FDD party's decision to allow Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza to run for a third five-year term in office, in Bujumbura, May 7, 2015. REUTERS/Jean Pierre Aime HarerimanaProtesters burn a man alive in Burundi’s capital, saying he’s a member of the Imbonerakure youth wing of the ruling CNDD-FDD party, which attacked them during their rallies. The government dismisses charges that Imbonerakure is fomenting violence. Witness:

They put tyres around his neck and then burned him

30 Apr, 2015

Students expelled

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1202388_996877Authorities in Burundi close university accommodation and force thousands of students to leave the campus in an operation apparently designed to halt a wave of protests. Large numbers of students, many of whom come from rural areas, are seen evacuating the University of Burundi, in the capital Bujumbura.